InkBird, Apex or Seneye

[JordanM]

Hello,

I am looking for a controller. Main concern right now is just monitoring the temp. I am looking for a cheap option and I know the Inkbird is the cheapest, however it only allows control of heaters/coolers.
I like the Apex but this is a lot more expensive, however I can get a junior for a decent price and this will allow me more flexibility to control other modules in the future if I choose. Lastly I like the seneye and it is what i would choose if it was actually a true controller. Being only able to monitor the tank is only have the story. Being able to respond in changes with the tank even remotely is a huge bonus. However I do like that the seneye has a PAR meter on it as well as I am just setting up the tank and getting some Viparspectra LEDs. I know there is a starting point of where people have started with these lights, however it would be nice to know the true PAR. I also like that the seneye monitors ammonia and the Apex does not have an option for this yet. I have a feeling everyone is going to choose the Apex but was just wondering what your thoughts are.

 

[Greybeard]

In your position, before 2 years ago, my choice had always been Inkbird. 2 years back, I picked a ReefKeeper Lite, and started working with a 'real' controller. A year after that, when the RKL went squirrely on me, I bought an Apex Classic.

Should have done it a long, long time ago. If I could make that choice again, I'd buy the Apex 2016.

Ok, so... at first, it was temp control and lights. Here's what I'm doing with mine now:

Temp: with audible and email alarms if out of range.
Lights: (Blue, White, Refugeum), with auto shut off if temp exceeds limit, ability to control via cell phone
Skimmer: based on high limit switch in sump, shuts off if water level is above normal... no more flooded skimmer cup.
ATO Reservoir: Refill cycle starts when low level hit, stops when high level hit, email if it takes longer than usual to fill (backup float valve for safety)
Wave pumps: On feed timer, which is started by pressing a button under the rim of my stand.

That's the 8 outlets I have. I already have plans for several more, as soon as I get around to buying another EB8. For one, I want a push button to start filling my mixing barrel, with a high level sensor to shut it down. I have under stand lighting that's about to go in place, and want that on a timer. I want my return pump and my dual reactor pump on controlled outlets, so that I can create a 'water change' mode that shuts off everything that needs to be off during a water change... I want my dosing pump on a controlled outlet so I can shut it off and email an alarm if pH rises out of range... I'm likely to fill another EB8 pretty rapidly.

You'll never really understand how valuable a controller can be until you start actually using one, and imagining new automation and safety features that you can put in place. Add to that graphing pH, Temp, even outlets... I regularly graph the outlet for my ATO reservoir, so I can see how often it automatically refills itself, and how long it takes to do so.

 

[JordanM]

Thank you. I do love the user interface for the Apex and the App looks great! The new 2016 is way to expensive for me but i do like how you can see energy consumption per outlet which you cant do with the classic EB8.

 

[JordanM]

I can get a junior for about $200 new which is why im thinking about going that way.

 

[Twocorns]

Don't bother with the seneye. You'll still need a $300 web server to monitor the seneye remotely.

You can easily get a used apex jr. Or classic here. I got my apex classic for under $200 on here (without display). And Jrs. Go for $110-120 used. Hands down the apex is the way to go. And don't buy the apex wifi adapter. Use DDWRT on an old wireless router (or buy a $5 router at goodwill) and convert it into a wireless bridge. Mine works flawlessly.

 

[JordanM]

Thanks for your input. I can get a Seneye with SWS and wireless bridge for $180. Thats why the price point of each system is pretty much the same to me. With a $90 price difference I would just purchase a new one.

 

[Twocorns]

I'd still go with an apex jr. If you ever have to sell it the apex would be easier to sell. Good luck!

 

[Why-Me]

Apex. It does more and is all controllable from the same place and much more controllable at that. Agree with others here you can get used apex for $200 or so. My tank isn't even set up yet and I bought a used Apex with extra eb8 (for expansion), display, temp and pH probes all for $300. I'm still collecting pieces to put everything together and already glad I got it knowing everything will be monitored and adjusted through the Apex.

 

[JordanM]

Im not opposed to buying a used classic, but after you replace the probes as most of the used ones are no longer good, your almost at the price of a new one.

 

[NS Mike D]

inkbird is not the only low cost option, there a few - i have a willfi that cost $30.

I have a bit of a contrarian view on this. I will eventually have a full controller but am glad i did it piece meal. My heaters are on the wilfi. My ATO is a BRS DIY ATO, my fuge lights and one of my powerheads are on simple timers, the other two powerheads are on the HYDOR smart wave and my RapidLED Corona lights have their own wifi that I control on a phone app.

As the wifi technology makes it's way into the components in market place (like we see with lights) , I can see more and more self app driven devices that can be controlled independent of a central controller.

In any case, I am glad I did this piece meal over the course of 3 years as I really got to know what I truly need and how much automation I want.

I am planning a reefpi build, not so much to change any automation, but rather to clean up the wiring. i have looked at the apex and the reefkeeper for more than a year now, but see no true advantage over my individual controllers to justify the $1000+. On the other hand, if I was given an apex, I would install it in a heartbeat - I love technology and a central controller is way cool

 

[JordanM]

Can you send me a link to the wilfi controller? I cant seem to find it.
I know Inkbird used to have a wifi model but i think the app is no longer supported and does not work.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Apex. It allows more flexibility and more expandability in the future. if you stick with the hobby, the Apex will be cheaper in the long run as you won't spend money on the other systems and then eventually replace them with the Apex.

 

[Why-Me]

Im not opposed to buying a used classic, but after you replace the probes as most of the used ones are no longer good, your almost at the price of a new one.

At BRS double junction lab grade probe for pH is $60 and temp is $25. And that's only if they need to be replaced...not too bad.

 

[Flameback Pair]

I would buy all three!! Eventually after awhile you might do that. I have all three and the Inkbird is a little cheap for me. I had it for redundancy. If one of the wires was pushed over at the base to fit through a hole in my controller panel, the screen would go blitz. Like I say kinda cheapy. Going to put it on my quarantine tank instead with my Reefkeeper. I would go with the Cobalt temp controller instead.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Digital aquatics ReefKeeper. I own an APEX but RK is by far the easiest to set up and monitor and reliable

 

[markstubb]

If you can get a seneye that cheap with the sws, I’d go for it. You can use the seneye for a whole, with or without a slide, and then once you get comfy with it, find a deal on a 2016 apex. Then you’ll also have the seneye for par measuring in the future. This is what I did and I’m happy.

 

[cryotek74]

Apex controllers are great for everything including heaters. I have had my heater on my Apex before but change it to the Inkbird. The reason I did this was to save my tank during power outages. I run all DC pumps(main and wave), so the power consumption is less than 0.75 amps. A heater can draw a lot of amps(depending on size). So during power outages the heat would drain my UPS in less than 45 min. I moved my heater to the inkbird on a separate(non Apex) outlet. Now my UPS will keep my tank pumps going for at least 3 hrs(might be longer, having had a power outage longer than 3 hrs yet).

 

[JordanM]

Thanks for the input. I think im leaning towards the Apex Jr right now. Either I will get the Jr or get the Inkbird now and wait until i can find a good deal on a 2016 Apex. Has anyone heard when Apex will be coming out with a new Controller? How often do they release new ones, not that they need a new one. It would be nice if they made some kind of ammonia probe like the seneye. I understand that a nitrate probe would be very expensive and not as reliable.

 

[markstubb]

The reason I did this was to save my tank during power outages.

you know you can just shut off the heater with the apex when the power goes out, right?

 

[markstubb]

Has anyone heard when Apex will be coming out with a new Controller? How often do they release new ones, not that they need a new one. It would be nice if they made some kind of ammonia probe like the seneye. I understand that a nitrate probe would be very expensive and not as reliable.

I will probably be many years until a new apex is released considering their track record of how often they release new controllers. The "classic" was out 7 years before the 2016 was released in the middle of 2016.

ammonia probe isn't probably going to happen as it's honestly not that hard to test for, nor is it that important long term. If you want ammonia tested, just get a seneye and 3 slides and use it to monitor your tank for the first 3 months, then just use it as a back up temp monitor and PAR tester.